Susan Patterson Haymaker has been practicing T’ai Chi Ch’uan and QiGong for over twenty years and became an accredited instructor in 1988. She teaches students of all ages and physical capabilities at her A Joyful Movement Studio in San Diego, California. Susan says she experiences true fulfillment when a practitioner leaves her class feeling centered and refreshed, ready to face whatever challenges their day may bring.
The story of T’ai Chi begins with a Taoist hermit, Chang San-Geng who lived in China either during the Sung (960-1279) or the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). The legend says that Chang San-Geng was living in the Wu Tang mountains when one day, while on an outing in the forest, he watched a snake in combat with a crane. The Master was amazed at how the snake could evade and dart from the more powerful crane. The legend tells us that the art of Tai Chi Ch’uan came to him that night in a powerful dream.
T’ai Chi and other ancient forms of marshal arts were originally developed for protection and killing. They were deadly art forms whose secrets were guarded by a few families who used these techniques within the context of life or death struggles. Throughout time the practice was refined. In ancient China, monks who had to travel the highways unprotected, felt that Qigong (a practice of movement and breathing) was a less violent way to protect themselves. As spiritual leaders they saw Qigong not only as a defensive art, but a way to connect the mind and body.
As the marshal arts developed over the years, T’ai Chi and Qigong have been described as “mediation in movement.” The basic concept of T’ai Chi is to be grounded in your feet with a relaxed “puppet like” attitude, sporting a straight spine – like a string of pearls. Susan describes it as a, “standing, slow moving dance.” – a great divergence from its ancient origins.
Susan explained that by practicing T’ai Chi today, you are working toward “being in the present,” which will lead you “to joy in the movement.” As your body follows your breath, your mind stays still and you will feel relaxed and more aware. Through your movement, you are aligning your body in order to enhance the flow of energy. As you “dance” you become aware that your feet are grounded and that your eyes are aware but not focused. When practicing T’ai Chi you are in the now, yet you know everything that is all around you. The movement is not about thinking or trying, rather it is about letting go…letting go of the resistance. Your movements are soft amd fluid. As you gently move, the tension falls away and you become a part of the movement of the universe.
It is important to note that everyone can practice T’ai Chi. Susan teaches classes for people who are in wheelchairs or who have limited range of movement. She stresses that, unlike other forms of exercise, there is no “right way” to do T’ai Chi. When members of her class are unable to imitate the movements, she asks them to visualize the movements in their minds. She is quick to point out that new research shows, even through visualization, there can be physical benefit.
When Susan speaks about T’ai Chi and her role as a teacher, it is apparent that this movement of meditation has brought absolute joy to her life. “For those with fibromyalgia, T’ai Chi can teach a very valuable lesson. You don’t have to ‘endeavor or struggle’ with your illness. Try to envision how soft and fluid water is and yet remember – it is so powerful that it can wear away solid rock and create the beauty that is the Grand Canyon.”
Reprinted with permission of the National Fibromyalgia Association from “Fibromyalgia AWARE,” September-December, 2002
- Also see:Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for information on how to get started and what to consider.
